Delocalization Transition in Colloidal Crystals

Sublattice melting is the loss of order one lattice component in binary or ternary ionic crystals upon increase temperature. A related transition has been predicted colloidal crystals. To understand nature this transition, we study delocalization self-assembled, size asymmetric using a generalized molecular dynamics model. Focusing on BCC lattices, observe smooth change from localized-to-delocalized interstitial particles for variety interaction strengths. Thermodynamic arguments, mainly absence discontinuity heat capacity, suggest that passage localization-to-delocalization continuous and not phase transition. This enhanced by vibrations, temperature onset can be tuned strength between colloid species. Therefore, localized delocalized regimes sublattice are dominated enthalpic entropic driving forces, respectively. work sets stage future studies systems with different stoichiometries types, it provides insights into superionic materials, which have potential application energy storage technologies.